Traveling advertising sign



Aijlg. 2, 1932.

2 Sheets-'Sheet l mw NN Filed May 2O,` 1931 .ww mw.

. l. n TIL m un Q w 1Vmm m. N 1 1%. NN NN La ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1932. M.J. coHAN TRAVELING ADVERTISING SIGN Filed May 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2wm m Q Y a n S. ,f @N b Qm/ m@ m.. E E o V T. mw l lli i MN .2 i m@ mNNI NN wh Nm Um .m Nm f www !JHH1V11 n f H1 1 .Sw QN 0 @w m I Mllllxuu l1| .r WIW@ Patented Aug. 2, 1932 unirse stares PATENT critics f MORRS J.COI-IAN, OF`IBROOKLYN, YORK, lASSIGNOR TO yRELIANGIE' SPECIALTIES MFG.CO., INC., OF YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TRAVELINGADVERTISING SIGN' Application iiled May 20, 1931. Serial No. 538,651,

My present invention relates to advertising devices and moreparticularly to devices of general character specied, as are commonlyknown as reflector signs. It is an object s of the present invention toprovide a movinirable manner.

ln the accompanying specification, I shall describe, and in the annexeddrawings show, an illustrative embodiment of the advertising device ofthe present invention. It is,

=..f-. however, to be clearly understood thatthe present inventionis notlimited to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the same, which isherein described and shown for purand 16.k Each of the brackets consistsof arear vertical portion17, an upper leg 18, and a lower leg 19, thebrackets being secured to thebase plate -by spot-welding the lower legsV19 to thefbase plate. Secured intermediate the upper and lower legs V18and 19 of the bracket 16, iscanother U-shaped bracket 20, thisbracketconsisting of thefront vertical portion 21, the lower leg 22, which isspot-welded tothe llower leg 19 of the bracket 16and the upper leg 23which is spot-welded to the upper leg 18 of the-bracket 16. ySecured tothe upper leg 18 vof the U-shaped -bracket 15, as by havingthe upperhorizontal portion 24 thereof'spot-welded to the same,'is anangle iron25, the front vertical .portion 26 of which is 4provided at the-lowerend thereof with the offset portion 26., the

ln the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is latter portionbei'ngspot-.welded toa horizontally extending arm 27 of a-vertical bracket28,v the leg portion 29o'f which is spot-welded to the base plate 11near the end opposite to that which supports the bracket 16.

' Formed with the front portions 26 and 21 of the brackets and 20, areforwardly eX- poses of illustration only. 70

a top plan view of the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention, the casing thereof being removed to show the internalconstruction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional viewtakcn on line 2--2 of 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the aforesaid il- "L" lustrative embodiment ofthe present invention, here again the coverbeing removed; and Fig. 5 isan enlarged detailed. longitudinal sectional view of one of the idlersemployed v in the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of' l'-' the presentinvention.

Referring now more in detail to the aforesaid illustrative embodiment ofthe moving or traveling signs of the present invention,

and with particular reference to thedrawings i illustrating the same,numeral 10 generally indicates a sign made in accordance with theaforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention. Such` signincludes thereotangular base plate llprovided at the four 'l edgesthereof with the upstanding flanges 12.

The base plate 11 is spot-welded to a dishshaped bezel or frame 1.3 andis provided with a plurality, here shown as four, feet 14. Secured tothe base plate 11 nearthe short, end

edges thereof, is a pair of U-shaped brackets y tending plates 30 and31, which are adapted to carry, respectively, angle .irons 32 and 33.The angle irons are provided with the obliquely disposed` supportingportions 34 and 35, these portions being disposed, normally at an angleof 45 to the base plate 11. The angle irons 32 and 33 are secured totheplates 30 and 31 by being pivotally attached lthereto by the bolts36,'the angle irons being also provided with elongated slots 37,

through which pass bolts 38, engageable in the plates 30 and 31,y andheld in place by nuts 39, the arrangement being such that the angleirons 32 and 33, can be altered as conlditions require.A

and of the angle irons 32 and 33, have at The supporting portions 34theirlower frontV edges, U-shaped holders 40 `and 41 adapted to receivea mirror 42. Thus,

any images reflected in.v the mirror from -abovethe same, may be seen byan observer standing in the-front of the advertising device of thepresent invention.

The numeral 43 Agenerallydesignates 4iilm tracks, which consist ofL-shape'd runners 44' and 45,. secured to the upper surfaces of the l' iupper legs 18 of the brackets 15 and 16. The runners 44 and 45, consistof the horizontal portions 46 and 47, and the vertical portions 48 and49.

The entire device is enclosed in a casing 50 whichV consists of the rearwall 51, end walls 52 and 53, front wall 54 and top wall 55. The frontwall 54 is provided with the rectangular opening 56 through which the'rel'ectionsin the mirror 42 may be observed,` and the edges surroundingthe 'opening 56 are bent upon themselves at 57 soas tov reinforcev theopening.

The lower edges of the rear, side and front walls, are bent inwardly, topresent flanges Z58 by Vmeans oi. which the casing 50 rests upon thebase plate 11 Within the upstanding flanges 12. l

Thetop wall 550i the casing50 is also provided with a rectangularopening 59, this opening being surrounded by downwardly .directed ingesOwhichit within the vertical portions 48 and 49 of the runners 44 and 45.The lpurpose of this arrangement is to keepthe runners uniformly spreadapart `throughout -their length, so as not to interfere with 'the propermovement of the yiilm ;which they guide, Yas will be `readily under--stood .as this description progresses. lntegral-ly formed Ywiththedownwardly directed anges 60 :are inwardly directed .flanges y61,'the lower surfaces vkowhich are adapted to cooperate With theAhorizontal 'portions 46 and 47, yof they runners 44 and 45, so as rtoguide :the marginal portions of the iilm 62, "which passes intermediatethe horizontal ypor- .tions 46 and 47 ofthe runners 44 and'45,.and theinwardly directed ilan'ges'61 ofthe downwardly directed flanges .6()which surround l, the opening 59 in @the upper wall 55 'of the ,casingdThe .upper 'surface of the flanges Gland the facingsurfaces of theflanges A6() are receptive of Ja rectangular sheet 63 of V.fiashed opal`or other translucent glass, the

" arrangement being such, that the upper sur- .face ofthe glass is flushwith the upper Asur-- a'ce of the .top ywall 55.

" rPhe VfilmV 621s -run .about'a series of rollers 64. The lm alsopasses about a roller 6.5 and anotherroller 66, all as clearly shown inFig.` 201 vthe drawings. The Yroller 65 Vis carried by the verticalbracket 28, and 'the roller 66'is carried by a bracket 67 .slidablealong a horizontal bar 68 carried "by the brackets 28 and 20. Theposition vof the bracket 67 may be' adjusted, and after vadjustedretained 1in place `by means of a set screw 69`l the purpose of thisroller Ybeing to take up any slack which there may be vin 'the 'film 62.Each of the rollers 64, 65 and 66 preferably consists of a cylindricalwooden body 70 having enlarged end vportions71 and isprovid'ed with theend bores 72 connected ,the counter bore 73 of lesser diameter. Thebores 72 are receptive of inserts; 74 and 75 of Arguto wood, theseinserts constituting oilless bearings, by means of which the rollers maybe rotatably mounted on the pins 76 having the heads 77. intermediatethe outer end of each of the rollers and the head 77 A of its pin 76, isa washer 78, the opposite end of the pin being threaded at 79 so thatthe .rollers may be secured to their supports as set forth in earlierportions of this specification. The iilm 62 contacts only the enlargedportions 71 of veach of the rollers at the marginal portions thereof, sothat those portions of the film that contain written matter do .notcomein contact with any portion of 'the rollers, thus giving longer lifeto the saine..

in Order .um the. sini, which is endless,

'be inoved continuously, I provided driving means 80. Such driving meanspreferably consists of an velectric motor `81 of approxi-;matelyrone-'fitieth of a horse-power, which motor is adapted, .througha right-angle drive '.82fto rotate a shaft 88. This shaft has linedthereon :gl .largev rubber vroller 84 adapted to cooperate witha smallerrubber roller 85 to l "jacent the rheostat 89 I provide a. bracket 92,

which is adapted to support an electrical receptacle 93, the lat-terbeing secured rto the bracket by a strap 94, and estending beyond'th'ezrear wall 51 oi"- the casing 50 through an opening 95.

All of the various electrical portions of the present invention may bewired as follows: `One terminal of the receptacle 93 is connected byawire 96 to one terminal of the motor 81. The other terminal of thelmotor81 is conlnecte'd bya'wire 97 to one terminal 98 of the w rheostat 89;and the other terminal 99 of .the

4rheostat is'connected by a wire 100 to the kremaining terminal of' thereceptacle 98.

.I it islfound desirable, the opening 56 in 'the front wall 54 ol the'casing 56 may closed by means of a glass window 101 'to make the casingas a' whole dust-prooi'. If the window 101 is employed, there may beslot-welded to the rear surface o' the iront wall 101, immediately belowthe lower longltudinal bend57 surrounding the opening the ZLshaped`bracket 102 which is receptive of the lower edge of the glass, theupper linea-165 Y This completes the description of the construction ofthe aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the advertising devices ofthepresent invention. 'lt is believed thatthe mode of operation thereofwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which thepresent invention relates,'but for the sake of clarity, the operationmay be briefly summarized as follows:

After the devicelO has been permanently settled in the position that itis intended that it occupy, the mirror -l2 is adjusted, as abovedescribed, so that the reflections therein, coming from above the same,will be readily seen by persons standing in front of the device. rlfheelectric current is then applied so as to operate the motor 8l which,through the cooperating rubber rollers 84 and vwhich engage therebetweenthe lilmv 62,;will drive the film in the circuitous path indicated inFig. 2 of the drawings. As the film passes beneath the flashedl opalglass 63, with the marginal portions thereof guided `intermediate Vtherunners 44 and 45, and the flanges 6l, any light entering the casing 50will pass through the glass 63 and film 62, to create images of theinscriptions of the i'ilm in the mirror 42, and these reflections willbe readily observed by persons standing in front of or at an angle tothe sign through the opening 56 in the front wall 54tof the casing 50.Should there be too much slack in the film, the same may be taken up byloosening the set screw 69 and moving the bracket 67 to the left in-Fig.2, until the slack is taken up,

after which the set screw 69 may again be tightened.

yThis completes the description of the operation ofthe advertisingdevices of the present invention. lt will be noted that such devices aresimple in construction, contain few operative parts, are easy andeconomical to -fabricate and assemble, and provide excellent advertisingfacilities at low cost and with considerable effectiveness. Othersuperiorities and advantages of the devices of the present inventionwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which thepresent invenporting members, together with a plurality oflongitudinally disposedV flanged guide members carried by said endsupporting members, an endless flexible sign stencil having a portionthereof passing over said longitudinally disposed flanged guidemembers,.a plurality of rollers for carrying said endless flexible signstencil, means for moving said endless flexible sign stencil over saidrollers at an adjustable Vrate of speed and means for tensioning saidendless flexible sign stencil in its'movement over said flanged guidemembers, in combination with a closure adapted to cover and house theoperating parts of the sign carried by said base plate, said closureembodying a top portion carrying a glass member.

2. ln a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of end supportingmembers carried thereby, and a mirror-supporting member carried by eachof said end supporting members, each of said mirror-supporting mem-Vbers being provided with an inclined mirrorsupporting surface, togetherwith means for adjusting the inclination of said mirror-supportingmembers, together with a plurality of longitudinally disposed flangedguide members carried' by said end supporting -means for tensioning saidendless flexible ign stencil in its movement over said flanged guidemembers, in combination with a closure adapted to cover and house theoperating parts of the lsign carried' by said base plate, said closureembodying a top portion carrying a glass member and having also a frontmember provided with an opening therein .and a transparent `Glass membercarried in said opening. Y

3. ln a traveling sign, a base'plate, a plurality of end supportingmembers carried thereby, and a mirror supporting member carried by yeachof said end supporting members, each of said mirror-sujiporting membersbeing provided with porting surface, together with means for adjustingthe inclination of said mirror-supporting members, together with aplurality 'of longitudinally disposed flanged guide members carried bysaid end supporting members, an endless flexible sign stencil having aportion thereof passing over said longitudinally disposed flanged guidemembers, a plurality of rollers for carrying said end- .less flexiblesign stencil, means for moving said endless flexible sign stencil oversaid rollers at an adjustable rate of speed and means for tensioningsaid endless flexible sign stencil in its movement over said flangedguide members, in combination with a closure adapted to cover and housethe operating parts of the sign carried by said base plate,

said closure embodying a top portion having a cutaway portion providedwith a plurality of opposed, depending flange portions carrying a glassmember and having also a front an inclined mirror-supo sul LTI

member provided .With an v`opening therein Vand a transparent Vglassmember carried in said opening. Y

4. In a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of end supportingmembers carried thereby, and a mirror-supporting member rcarried by eachof said end supporting' members, each of said mirror-supporting membersvbeing provided with an inclined mirror-supporting surface, togeth-erwith means for adjusting the inclination of said mirror-supportingmembers, together With a plurality of longitudinally disposed flangedguide members carried by said end supporting members, an endlessflexible sign stencil having a portion thereof passing over saidlongitudinally disposed flanged guide members, a plurality of rollersfor carrying said endless flexible sign stencil, means for moving saidendless flexible sign stencil over said rollers at an adjustable rate ofspeed and means for .tensioning said endless flexible sign stencil inits movement over said flanged guide members, in combination With aclosure adapted to cover and house the operating parts of the signcarried by said base plate, said closure embodying a top portion ha'inga cutaway portion provided with a plurality of opposed, depending flangeportions carrying a glass member.

5. In a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of end-supportingmembers carried thereby, and a mirror-supporting member carried by eachof said end-supporting members, each of said mirror-supporting membersbeing provided with an inclined mirrorsupporting surface, together withmeans for adjusting the inclination of said mirror-supporting members,together with a plurality of longitudinally disposed flanged guidemembers carried by said end-supporting members, an endless flexible signstencil having a portion thereof passing over said longitudinallydisposel flanged guide men bers, a plurality of rollers for carryingsaid endless flexible sign stencil, means for moving said endlessflexible sign stencil over said rollers at an adjustable rate of speed,and means for tensioning said endless flexible sign stencil in itsmovement over said flanged guide members, by the adjustment of one ofsaid rollers, in combination with a closure adapted to cover and housethe operating parts of the sign carried by said base plate, said closureembodying a top portion carrying a glass member. Y

G. In a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of end-supportingmembers carried thereby, anda mirror supporting member carried by eachof said end supporting members, each of said mirror-supporting membersbein provided with an inclined mirror-supporting surface, together Withmeans for adjusting the inclination of said mirror-supportingmembers,together With a plurality of Lessines longitudinally disposed flangedguide members carried by Vsaid end supporting members, an endlessflexible sign stencil .having a portion thereof passing over saidlongitudi* nally disposed flanged guide members, a plurality of rollersfor carrying said endless flexible sign stencil, means for .moving saidendless flexible sign stencil yover said rollers at an adjustable rateof speed, and means for tensioning said endlessflexible sign stencil inits movement over said flanged guide members, by the adjustment of oneof said rollers, in combination With a closure adapted to cover andhouse the operating parts of the sign carried by said base plate, saidclosure embodying a top portion carrying a glass member, and having alsoa front member provided with an opening ktherein and a transparent glassmember carried in said opening.

7. In a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of end supportingmembers carried thereby, and a mirror-supporting member Vcarried by eachof said end-supporting members, each of said mirror-supporting membersbeing provided with an inclined mirror-supporting surface, together Withmeans for adjusting the inclination ofsaid mirror-supporting members,together With a plurality of longitudinally disposed flanged guidemembers carried by said end support ing members, an endless flexiblesign stencil having a portion thereof passing over said longitudinallydisposed flanged guide ment bers, a plurality of rollers for carryingsaid endless flexible sign stencil, means for mov` inasaid endlessflexible sign stencil over said rollers at an adjustable rate of speed,and means for tensioning saidV endless flexible sign stencil'in itsmovement over said flanged guide members by the adjustment of one ofsaid rollers, in combination with a closure adapted to cover and housethe operating parts ofthe sign carried by said base plate, said closureembodying a top'portion having a cutaway portion provided with aplurality of opposed, depending flange portions carrying a glass memberand having also a front member provided vvith an opening therein and atransparent glass member carried in said opening.

8. In a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of end supportingmembers carried thereby, and a mirror-supporting member carried by eachof said end supporting members, each of said mirror-supporting membersbeing provided with an inclined mirrorsupporting surface, together Withmeans for adjusting the inclination of said mirror-supporting members,together with a plurality of longitudinally disposed flanged guidemembers carried by said end supporting members, an endless flexible signstencil having a portion thereof passing over said longitudinallydisposed flanged guide members, a plurality of rollers for carrying saidend less flexible sign stencil, means for moving said endless flexiblesign stencil over said rollers at an adjustable rate of speed, and meansfor tensioning said endless flexible sign stencil in its movement oversaid flanged guide members bythe adjustment of one of said rollers incombination With a closure adapted to cover and house lthe operatingparts of the sign carried by said base plate, said closure embodying atop portion having a cutaway portion provided with a plurality ofopposed, depending flange portions carrying a glass member.` j

9. In a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of endsupportingmembers carried thereby, and a mirror-supporting member carried by eachof said end-supporting members, each of said mirror-supporting membersbeing provided with an inclined mirror supporting surface, together withmeans for adjusting the inclination of said mirror-supporting members,together With a plurality of longitudinally disposed flanged guidemembers carried by said end-supporting members, an endless flexible signstencil have ing a portion thereof passing over said long1- tudinallydisposed flanged guide members, a plurality of rollers for carrying saidendless flexible sign stencil, means for moving said endless flexiblesign stencil over said rollers at an adjustable rat-e of speed, andmeans for tensioning said endless flexible sign stencil in its movementover said flanged guide members, by the adjustment by one of saidrollers, in combination With a closure adapted to cover and house theoperating parts of the sign carried by said base plate, said closureembodying a top portion carrying a glass member, and an aperture for thepassage therethrough of a rheostat-operating member for regulating thespeed of the moving means.

l0. In a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of end-supportingmembers carried thereby, and a mirror-supporting member carried by eachof said end-supporting members, each of said mirror-supporting membersbeing provided with an inclined mirror supporting surface, together Withmeans for adjusting the inclination of said mirror-supporting members,together With a plurality of longitudinally disposed flanged guidemembers carried by said end-supporting members, an endless flexible signstencil having a. por- Vtion thereof passing over said longitudinallydisposed flanged guide members, a plurality of rollers for carrying saidendless flexible sign stencil, means for moving said end less flexiblesign stencil over said rollers at an adjustable rate of speed, and meansfor tensioning said endless flexible sign stencil in its movement oversaid flanged guide members, by the adjustment of one of said rollers, incombination With a closure adapted to cover and house the operatingparts of the sign carried by said base plate, said closure. embodying atop portion carrying a glass member, and having also a frontmemberprovided With an opening therein and a transparent glass membercarried in said members carried by said end supporting members, anendless flexible sign stencil having a portion thereof passing over saidlongitudinally disposed flanged guide members, a plurality of rollersfor carrying said endless flexible sign stencil, means fo-r moving saidendless flexible sign stencil over said rollers at an adjustable rate ofspeed, and means for tensioning said endless flexible sign stencil inits movement over said flanged guide mem- Y bers by the adjustmentof oneof said rollers, in combination With a closure adapted to cover andhouse the operating parts of the sign carried by said base plate, saidclosure embodying a top portion having a cutaway portion provided With aplurality of Opposed, depending flange portions carryinga glass memberand having also a front member provided With an opening therein and atransparent glass member carried in said opening, and an aperture forthe passage therethrough of a rheostat-operating member for regulatingthe speed of the moving means.

12. In a traveling sign, a base plate, a plurality of end-supportingvmembers carried thereby, and a mirrorsupporting member carried by eachof said end-supporting members, each of said mirror-suppo-rting membersbeing provided with an inclined mirrorsupporting surface, together withmeans for adjusting the inclination of said mirror-supporting members,together With a plurality of longitudinally disposed flanged guidemembers carried by said end-supporting 'members, an endless flexiblesign stencil having a portion thereof passing over said longitudinallydisposed flanged guide members, a plurality of rollers for carrying saidendless flexible sign stencil, means for moving said endless flexiblesign stencil over said rollers at an adjustable rate of speed, and meansfor tensioning said endless flexible sign stencil in its movement oversaid flanged guide members bv the adjustment of one of said rollers incombination With a closure adapted to cover and house th-e operatingparts of the sign carried by said base plate, said closure embodying atop portion having a cutaway portion provided with a plurality ofopposed, depending flange portions Carrying a glass member, and anaperture for the passage therethrough of L rheostat-operating member forregulating the speed of the movinoj means.

n testimony, whereof, I have signed my name to this specieation this15th day of May, 1931.

MORRIS J. COHAN.

